Thursday, January 25, 2024

what's the mystery behind "secretary hand"?

high middle ages, england. a beauty, isn't it? 

as writing gets complicated and diverse, one needs to make it faster and less protocolar. the hand wins! but the hand needs training. this is the beginning of calligraphy. we talked about this briefly in oir last class. here are some examples:
insular miniscule,

chancery hand,

secretary, ancient

secretary hand happens almost "by itself," out of the need for a hand that was fast, more legible and universally recognizable than the older book hands of the High Middle Ages. 

& what was the rush?

BUSINESS! and a more dependant personal correspondence, in cities, chanceries and courts.

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